Data recording device for use with cameras

ABSTRACT

A data recording device for incorporation in a camera which enables appropriate data associated with a particular subject to be recorded in the same frame on a film or at an appropriate position outside of the frame on the film in the camera by removably inserting therein a data capsule including data rings bearing the data to be recorded. The selected data are illuminated by means within the capsule and projected onto the film through a projection lens located in the camera body. This projection lens is automatically covered or sealed by a mirror on a spring-loaded lever when the data capsule is removed from the camera so that external light is prevented from entering the projection lens and passing onto the film. On the other hand, the projection lens is automatically uncovered to project the selected data which is reflected by the mirror when the data capsule is inserted into the camera.

United States Patent [191 Miyagawa June 19, 1973 DATA RECORDING DEVICEFOR USE WITH CAMERAS Fumihiro Miyagawa, Tokyo, Japan [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data Primary Examiner-John M. Horan Attorney-HenryT. Burke, Robert Scobey and Robert S. Dunham et a1.

57 3 ABSTRACT A data recording device for incorporation in a camerawhich enables appropriate data associated with a particular subject tobe recorded in the same frame on a film or at an appropriate positionoutside of the frame on the film in the camera by removably insertingtherein a data capsule including data rings bearing the data to berecorded. The selected data are illuminated by means within the capsuleand projected onto the film through a projection lens located in thecamera body. This projection lens is automatically covered or sealed bya mirror on a spring-loaded lever when the data capsule is removed fromthe camera so that external light is prevented from entering theprojection lens and passing onto the film. On the other hand,,theprojection lens is automatically uncovered to project the selected datawhich is reflected by the mirror when the data capsule is inserted intothe camera.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented June 19, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

FIG. I

FIG. 3

Patented June 19, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

FIG. 5

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to adata recording device for use in a camera, and more particularly to acamera in which a data capsule, having appropriate data to be recordedon the film, may be removably inserted so that the data may be projectedand recorded on the film.

There have been proposed cameras of a type containing a source of datawhich may be selected from the exterior of the camera, a projection lensfor projecting the selected data onto a film, and a light source forilluminating the selected data, all of which are incorporated in thecamera so that when required the light source is energized to illuminateand project the selected 'data onto the same frame or outside of theframe on the film. However, it is impossible for such cameras to recordon the film any other data except that built-in such as the date when asubject is photographed. Furthermore, it is. extremely difficult toincorporate the data recording device into the limited space within thecamera, and the cameras incorporating such data recording devices becomeinevitably high in cost. In prior art cameras of the type described,when the light source and circuit is disconnected, upon failing tofunction, the cameras must be disassembled for repair or replacement sothat they cannot be used for photography.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention therefore provides acamera capable of recording on a film any selected data together withthe subject by inserting a separate data capsule, bearing various dataas desired, into the camera body. The data capsule comprises a pluralityof data rings upon each of whose circumferences are located data, andmeans by which the desired data may be selected and located at aprojection position when the data rings are rotated, and illuminated andprojected through a projection lens in the camera body onto a film inthe camera.

The film chamber and the capsule chamber into which the data capsule-isinserted are optically isolated in the camera body and the projectionlens may be covered with a cover means which includes a reflectingmirror. When the capsule is inserted into the camera, the cover means isautomatically moved away from the optical path to the projection lensand the reflecting mirror is located in a position for redirecting thedata carrying light beam toward the projection lens. On the other hand,when the capsule is removed from the camera, the cover means is returnedsuch that the reflecting mirror automatically covers the projection lensto prevent any external light from entering through the projection lensto expose the film.

The data capsule used in the present invention not only incorporatesmeans bearing data to be recorded, means for selecting the desired data,and means for illuminating the selected data," but also a power sourcefor the illumination means, and circuit means for controlling theillumination means.

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent from the following description of thepreferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a datacapsule in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line II-II ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a camera in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the relation between the datacapsule inserted into the camera and the data recording means disposedin the camera body; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an electric circuit for the data recording deviceof the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, adata capsule generally designated by 11 is shown comprising three datarings 1a, lb and 10 which are made of a transparent material such assynthetic resins and rotatable integrally with knurled settings rings2a, 2b and 2c. These data rings la-lc are rotatably fitted over a shaft4, and are provided with click springs 30, 3b and 3c which serve tosecurely maintain the data rings la-lc in desired position. The datarings la-Ic have a plurality of positions for digits representative of,for example, the year, the month and the day, that is, the date when apicture is taken, and may be turned to any number of positions by thesetting rings 2a-2c. A light bulb 5 is located inside a hollow portion4a in the shaft 4 in order to illuminate, through an opening 4b formedin the shaft 4, the selected numbers around the circumferences of thedata rings la-lc.

In the lower portion of the capsule casing 9 is disposed a lightingcontrol circuit which is a switching circuit 6, comprising twotransistors 6a, and 6b, a capacitor 6d, and resistors and 6e (enclosedin the chain lines in FIG. 5). The data capsule 11 further contains abattery 7 enclosed in the bottom portion thereof and covered with acover 8, and has a pair of terminals 10a and 10b of the control circuit6 projecting from the easing 9 (See FIG. 4). I

As best shown in FIG. 1, the setting rings 2a-2c have theircircumferences partly exposed through an opening 9b so that they may beselectively turned by a finger in order to expose and project thedesired numbers on the circumferences of the data rings la-lc through anopening 9a.

Next referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the components of camera body 12 whichare associated with the present invention will be described. The camerabody 12 is shown as comprising a capsule chamber 12a into which isinserted the capsule 11, a shutter 13, an X synchronizing contact switch14 for flash photography, a switch 15 disposed on the front side of thecamera body 12 as best shown in FIG. 3, and a pair of contacts 16a and16b which are positioned to contact the terminals 10a and 10b on theside of the capsule 11 when the latter is mounted into the camera body12 so that the seriesconnected switches 14 and 15 may be connected tothe switching circuit 6 as shown in FIG. 5

Next referring to FIG. 5, the mode of operation of the lighting controlcircuit will be described. When the switch 15 is closed or ON while theswitch 14 is opened or OFF, the capacitor 6d discharges through theresistor 60 so that the transistors 60 and 6b are cut off. As a result,the lamp 5 is OFF. When the switch 14 is closed or ON while the switchremains closed or ON, the capacitor 6d is charged through the resistor6e and when the voltage across the capacitor 6d reaches a predeterminedmagnitude, both transistors 6a and 6b begin conducting and are switchedON, so that the lamp 5 is turned ON. When the switch 14 is opened orOFF, the capacitor 6d discharges through the resistor 6c so that thetransistors 6a and 6b are cut off or OFF after about '30 msec. As aresult, the lamp 5 is turned off.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, the camera body 12 further comprises alight shielding tube 17 and a connecting lever 19, which is pivoted tothe upper side of the light shielding tube 17 by a pivot and is normallybiased to rotate in the counterclockwise direction under the force of aspring 21 loaded between the lever l9 and a pin 17a, and on which ismounted a reflecting mirror 22. When the capsule 11 is inserted into thecamera body 12 from the underside thereof in the direction indicated bythe arrow A in FIG. 4, the connecting lever 19 is caused, against theaction ofspring 21, to rotate in the clockwise direction to the positionshown in FIG. 4 so that the numbers on the data rings la-lc may beprojected onto a film 24 through the reflecting mirror 22, and fixedprojection lens 18. On the other hand, when the capsule 11 is removedfrom the camera body 12, the connecting lever 19 is rotated in thecounterclockwise direction under the force of the spring 21 so that thereflecting mirror 22 covers or shields the projection lens 18.Consequently no light is permitted to enter into the light shieldingtube 17 through the projection lens 18 from the exterior. In the instantembodiment, a rolled film 24 encased in a cassettte 23 is used.

Next the general mode of operation will be described. First the desirednumbers on the circumferences of the data rings la-lc are selected andlocated in the opening 9a by turning the associated setting rings 2a-2cby a finger. Next the capsule 11 is mounted into the capsule chamber 12aof the camera body 12 in the manner described above so that the pair ofterminals 10a and 10b on the side of the capsule 11 are made to contactthe pair of contacts 16a and 16b on the side of the camera body 12. Theconnecting lever 19 is caused to rotate a predetermined distance in theclockwise direction against the spring 21, as the inclined portion 19aon the upper end of lever 19 is contacted by and rides on the upper edgeof the casing 9 of the capsule 11 as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, thereflecting mirror 22 is moved to the operative position where itreflects the light beam from the lamp 5 through the opening 9b towardthe projection lens 18. With this arrangement no light from the exteriorof the camera will be permitted to enter the camera body 12 as thecapsule 11 is closely fitted into the capsule chamber 12a and the mirror22 is not moved from its covering position until thecapsule 11 is almostfully inserted. After the capsule 11 is mounted into the camera body 12held therein by any suitable stop means, the operator releases theshutter while depressing the switch 15. When the shutter blade 13 iswide open, the X synchronizing contact switch 14 is closed to establishthe lighting control circuit (See FIG. 5) thereby turning on the lamp 5.Consequently, the selected numbers on the data rings la-lc are projectedono the film 24 positioned in the camera film plane through the opening9b, the reflecting mirror 22 and the projection lens 18.

When the capsule 11 is removed from the camera body 12, the tab portion19a on the connecting lever 19 is released from contact with the upperedge of the capsule casing 9 and the lever 19 is rotated in thecounterclockwise direction under the force of the spring 21 so that thereflecting mirror 22 immediately shields the projection lens 18 in themanner described hereinbefore. As a result, the light from the exteriorof the camera body 12 will not enter into the light shielding tube 17 sothat undesirable exposure of the film 24 may be positively prevented.

In the instant embodiment, use is made of the reflecting mirror 22 forprojecting the desired data, the numerals on the data rings la-lc, andrecording them on the film. However, it will be clear to those skilledin the art that the projection lens shielding member need not be areflecting mirror if the capsule 11 and projection lens structure is somodified that the opening 9b is directly aligned with the projectionlens 18. In such case lever 19 and tab 19a will be suitably modified soas to still provide for immediate shielding or closing off of theprojection lens 18 when the capsule 11 is removed from the camera body.

According to the present invention, undesirable exposure of the film bythe light passing through the projection lens can be positivelyprevented. Another advantage of the present invention is that dependingupon the desired data to be recorded, an appropriate data capsule may beselected from various data capsules. A further advantage is that even incase of the malfunction of the inserted capsule due to the disconnectionof the lighting control circuit, the camera may be used for the desiredphotography without the least inconvenience.

According to the present invention, the data rings, the light source orlamp for projecting the data to be recorded, and the lighting controlcircuit are incorporated not in the camera body, but in the data capsulewhich may be removably inserted into the camera body so that variousdata rings may be used with ease.

What is claimed is: t

l. A data recording device for use with a camera of the type having:

a camera body with an interior film plane;

shutter means for controlling the admittance of light to said filmplane;

signal means actuated by said shutter means to produce a signal whensaid shutter means is opened; wherein the improvement comprises acombination of:

a data capsule including:

means for providing indicative data,

means for illuminating said indicative data; means in said camera bodydefining a receptacle for said data capsule including:

means for admitting illuminating light from said indicative data ontosaid film plane;

means for shielding said light admitting means in the absence of saiddata capsule in said receptacle comprising a reflecting mirror forredirecting illuminating light from said indicative data through saidlight admitting means;

means actuated by the insertion of said data capsule into saidreceptacle for displacing said shielding means to admit illuminatinglight from said indicative data to said film plane through said lightadmitting means; and means for actuating said illuminating means inresponse to a signal from said signal means when said data capsule is insaid receptacle such that illuminating light from said indicative datais admitted to said film plane when said shutter means is opened. 2. Adevice as in claim 1 wherein said means for providing indicative datacomprises:

a rotatable data ring member having indicia marked on its circumference;

a window in said data capsule through which a portion of said indiciacan be viewed;

a rotatable setting ring member connected to said data ring member forrotation therewith such that the portion of said indicia viewablethrough said window can be changed by a rotation of said setting ringmember.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said data ring member is oftranslucent material and said illuminating means is positioned toproject light through its circumference and out said window.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said means for illuminating saidindicative data comprises:

a lamp;

a power source for lighting said lamp; and

a circuit for controlling the supply of power from said power source tosaid lamp.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein said means for actuating saidilluminating means comprises:

a first contact means in said camera body connected to said signalmeans; and

second contact means in said data capsule cooperating with said firstcontact means when said data capsule is inserted in said receptacle forconnecting said signal means to said circuit.

6. A device as in claim 5 including means on said camera body foropening the connection between said first contact means and said signalmeans.

7. A device as in claim 1 wherein said means for displacing saidshielding means comprises spring-loaded lever means having means thereonengagable by said data capsule for displacing said lever means.

8. A device as in claim 7 wherein said shielding means is mounted onsaid lever means.

1. A data recording device for use with a camera of the type having: acamera body with an interior film plane; shutter means for controllingthe admittance of light to said film plane; signal means actuated bysaid shutter means to produce a signal when said shutter means isopened; wherein the improvement comprises a combination of: a datacapsule including: means for providing indicative data; means forilluminating said indicative data; means in said camera body defining areceptacle for said data capsule including: means for admittingilluminating light from said indicative data onto said film plane; meansfor shielding said light admitting means in the absence of said datacapsule in said receptacle comprising a reflecting mirror forredirecting illuminating light from said indicative data through saidlight admitting means; means actuated by the insertion of said datacapsule into said receptacle for displacing said shielding means toadmit illuminating light from said indicative data to said film planethrough said light admitting means; and means for actuating saidilluminating means in response to a signal from said signal means whensaid data capsule is in said receptacle such that illuminating lightfrom said indicative data is admitted to said film plane when saidshutter means is opened.
 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said meansfor providing indicative data comprises: a rotatable data ring memberhaving indicia marked on its circumference; a window in said datacapsule through which a portion of said indicia can be viewed; arotatable setting ring member connected to said data ring member forrotation therewith such that the portion of said indicia viewablethrough said window can be changed by a rotation of said setting ringmember.
 3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said data ring member is oftranslucent material and said illuminating means is positioned toproject light through its circumference and out said window.
 4. A deviceAs in claim 1 wherein said means for illuminating said indicative datacomprises: a lamp; a power source for lighting said lamp; and a circuitfor controlling the supply of power from said power source to said lamp.5. A device as in claim 4 wherein said means for actuating saidilluminating means comprises: a first contact means in said camera bodyconnected to said signal means; and second contact means in said datacapsule cooperating with said first contact means when said data capsuleis inserted in said receptacle for connecting said signal means to saidcircuit.
 6. A device as in claim 5 including means on said camera bodyfor opening the connection between said first contact means and saidsignal means.
 7. A device as in claim 1 wherein said means fordisplacing said shielding means comprises spring-loaded lever meanshaving means thereon engagable by said data capsule for displacing saidlever means.
 8. A device as in claim 7 wherein said shielding means ismounted on said lever means.